Elizabeth Smart Documentary Renews Focus on Wanda Barzee, Brian David Mitchell, and the Nine Months Elizabeth Smart Was Missing

A newly released Elizabeth Smart documentary is pushing the 2002 kidnapping case back into public conversation—bringing familiar questions with it: how long was Elizabeth Smart missing, who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, and what happened to the two captors, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. The film leans on Elizabeth Smart’s own recollections and archival material to revisit the night she was taken, the months-long search, and the aftermath that still shapes survivor advocacy today.

How Long Was Elizabeth Smart Missing and Kidnapped?

Elizabeth Smart was abducted in the early hours of June 5, 2002, and she was found alive on March 12, 2003. That means she was missing for about nine months—roughly 280 days.

The distinction between “missing” and “kidnapped” is important in this case: she was not simply unlocated; she was held captive and forced to live under strict control and concealment for the entire period until rescue.

Key timeline at a glance

Who Kidnapped Elizabeth Smart?

Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped by Brian David Mitchell, with Wanda Barzee acting as an active participant.

Mitchell had prior proximity to the Smart family and later used a religious persona and an alias to reinforce control. Barzee, his wife at the time, was present during critical moments of captivity and played a role in enforcing the isolation and compliance that kept Elizabeth hidden in plain sight.

When people search “Elizabeth Smart kidnapper” or “who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart,” the answer is straightforward: Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee.

Wanda Barzee and Brian David Mitchell: Where Are They Now?

The two kidnappers’ paths after conviction look very different.

Brian David Mitchell today

Mitchell is serving a life sentence in federal prison for kidnapping and related federal crimes. Recent updates tied to renewed attention around the documentary note he remains in federal custody and has faced prison safety issues in recent months.

Wanda Barzee today

Barzee was released in September 2018 after sentence-credit calculations and has since lived under restrictions tied to sex-offender registration rules. In May 2025, she was arrested on allegations involving entry into restricted public areas, a matter that moved through court scheduling and remains part of ongoing legal monitoring. She is not reported to be back in long-term custody as a result of that arrest, but she remains subject to strict conditions and oversight.

Elizabeth Smart Documentary: What It Covers and Why It’s Prompting New Searches

The Elizabeth Smart documentary frames the case through three main lanes:

1. The abduction and immediate shock inside the Smart home

2. The long search and public mobilization that followed

3. The mechanics of survival and recovery, told with Elizabeth’s voice at the center

The film also re-examines how identification finally happened: sightings, tips, and the moment in public when her appearance and the captors’ distinctive clothing drew attention. It places heavy emphasis on how Elizabeth navigated coercion—showing that “rescue” was not a single lucky break, but the end point of sustained effort by family, community, and law enforcement, with Elizabeth’s own survival decisions playing a role.

For viewers who are searching “who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart documentary” or “who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart streaming,” the documentary’s core takeaway is consistent: it names Mitchell and Barzee clearly and details how the captivity was maintained for months.

Elizabeth Smart’s Family: Lois Smart, Her Role, and the Private Side of a Public Case

Searches for “Elizabeth Smart mom” and “Lois Smart” often spike when new coverage appears, because the case became intensely public while the family was living through a private trauma.

Elizabeth Smart’s parents are Lois Smart and Ed Smart. The family’s public-facing work during the search—press appeals, organizing community attention, and keeping the case visible—became a defining feature of the early months. At the same time, the documentary reflects a reality that often gets missed in true-crime retellings: not every family member wants to participate in every retelling, even decades later.

Why the Elizabeth Smart Case Still Matters

The renewed attention isn’t only about revisiting a notorious kidnapping. The documentary arrives at a time when audiences are paying closer attention to:

• How coercion works (and why “why didn’t she run?” is the wrong question)

• How communities can help without turning a victim into a spectacle

• How survivors rebuild identity after prolonged captivity and stigma

Elizabeth Smart’s public life since her rescue—focused on survivor support and advocacy—has become a major part of why the story continues to resonate. The documentary doesn’t just recap what happened; it underscores what the case taught the public about missing-child investigations, media-driven awareness, and the long road after “found safe.”